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Bacteraemia following percutaneous dilational tracheostomy
1Intensive Therapy Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Bacteraemia is a frequent complication after percutaneous tracheostomy. Bloodstream infections often involve bacteria from the patient's own trachea or skin, highlighting the need for vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Percutaneous tracheostomy is a common procedure in intensive care settings.
- Understanding post-procedural infectious complications is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of bacteraemia (bloodstream infection) following percutaneous tracheostomy.
- To identify the common causative organisms and their sources.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 106 consecutive bedside percutaneous tracheostomies.
- Comparison of post-tracheostomy blood cultures with other blood cultures from the same patients.
- Analysis of organism sources (skin, trachea) and impact of antibiotic use.
Main Results:
- The incidence of positive post-tracheostomy blood cultures was 10.4%, higher than other blood cultures (6.6%).
- Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequent organism.
- Organisms in positive cultures often matched those found in the patient's tracheal secretions.
Conclusions:
- Bacteraemia is a significant complication of percutaneous tracheostomy.
- The primary sources of infection are the patient's trachea and skin flora.
- Antibiotic use at the time of tracheostomy did not significantly alter the bacteraemia incidence.